Curry, Warriors can't fall into Clippers' trap

OAKLAND -- Even though it didn't look like it in Game 2, the Warriors have seen opposing defenses try to trap star point guard Stephen Curry many times before. They've seen teams try to be physical with him and take him out of the game with aggressive double teams.

So why couldn't the Warriors handle the Los Angeles Clippers' trapping strategy in the 138-98 hammering Monday that evened the series at 1-1?

They had a number of theories in the aftermath Tuesday, but they were unified on one aspect -- they have to solve it or they're in big trouble, because they know the Clippers aren't going to pull back on a tactic that worked so effectively.

For Curry's part, the mentality for Game 3 Thursday night at Oracle Arena is bring on more double teams. He said the Warriors know how to slice it up and make teams pay if they execute properly.

"We entice that trap, because we have talent all over the court and if you give us that man advantage, we're going to beat you more times than not," Curry said. "But (in Game 2), it seemed like we weren't able to make crisp, clean passes or crisp moves to the basket out of the trap, especially early in the game. In the first game, I was getting the ball out of the trap and we were making two passes and getting dunks."

Coach Mark Jackson said like most other aspects of Game 2, the Warriors simply weren't ready to take the initiative against the trap, and when the Clippers stepped up the aggression against Curry from Game 1, the offense was flummoxed.

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"We'll make the proper adjustments and be better prepared facing it," Jackson said. "We have to do a better job attacking it. Just like defensively, we were on our heels. We didn't meet force with force, and when you're tentative against the trap, it exposes you."

If anything has been learned about Clippers coach Doc Rivers' defensive mindset for this series, it's that he's intent on not letting Curry beat him with his shooting. Even if he successfully breaks down the trap, the ball is out of his hands, and as Curry himself admitted, there's generally not enough time on the shot clock for him to get it back.

In short, the Clippers aren't banking on the other four guys on the floor being able to compensate for Curry's offense. That's why the trap has been pretty much unrelenting through the first two games, and especially spirited in Game 2.

"Steph has seen traps at certain points during the year, but I don't think he's seen traps consistently every time he comes off the ball screen," said Jermaine O'Neal. "Some teams try to mix it up, but that seems to be the thing (the Clippers) want to do -- get the ball out of his hands, make him uncomfortable."

So how do the Warriors respond?

"I'm sure we'll make some adjustments to help him stay involved early," O'Neal said. "Some of it may be just getting him off the ball and making him more of a two guard and put (Andre) Iguodala or Klay (Thompson) on the ball. The NBA playoffs are all about adjustments. (Opponents) are going to try to take your best options away, and the next move is to determine what you can do to make sure your best option is still involved."

Both Jackson and O'Neal said the other four Warriors on the floor have to be more aware of the trap and maintain proper court spacing to set up a quick score once Curry does pass out of the trap. Curry, meanwhile, said he has to better anticipate what kind of defensive set the Clippers are in as he brings the ball up the floor.

He knows it's probably going to be the trap most of the time, but if he can make the right reads and break it down often enough early in games, it'll keep L.A. honest. That, he added, will open up more opportunities for his own offense.

"The plays they trap, with the 24-second clock, once the ball is out, my job's pretty much done," he said. "But every possession is not going to be like that. I have to find a way to get more shots, particularly early in the game."

Turnovers, obviously, are a huge factor as well. The Warriors made 21 turnovers in Game 1 and 26 in Game 2, many of those a function of not being able to execute against the trap. Jackson said there is no excuse for his club not being able to react to it and beat it.

"We have stuff that counters it," he said. "The most important thing is we have to take care of the basketball. If they're going to double and be aggressive that way, we can get quality looks out of it. But if we turn the ball over and they get the ball in transition, they get life and all of a sudden it's a different monster you have to battle."

HELD IN CHECK
A look at Stephen Curry's stats over the first two games of the Clippers-Warriors first-round series, compared with his season averages:
Min Pts Reb Ast
Game 1 45 14 3 7
Game 2 31 24 1 8
Season 36.5 24.0 4.3 8.4